CHAPTER IV
How are cases reviewed?
All applications are received at any time and immediately assigned to a planner as case manager. Cases are quickly subjected to a review to determine if there are obvious errors that would prevent them from being processed in a timely manner. Once they are cleared for processing, copies of the case materials are referred to a number of agencies for review. Depending on the nature of the case and the specific location, reviews might be conducted by Planning & Zoning, Engineering, Public Works (Traffic and Drainage Divisions), GIS, Health Department, Fire, Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission, Georgia Department of Transportation, and Building Inspections. In unusual cases, applications may also be referred to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (usually for review by the Coastal Resources Division or the Environmental Protection Division), or other state or federal agencies.
As soon as the case materials are distributed, the case will have a number and information can be obtained on-line through the Development Review Comments section of this web site. Since staff (the Development Review Team) meets every Wednesday, most applications are received on Monday or Tuesday and are distributed on Wednesday, so cases usually appear on-line beginning on Wednesday. Staff has one week (i.e.: until the following Wednesday) to post comments, which appear on the web site as soon as they are posted. The assigned planner will review the comments and coordinate with the staff and the applicant to resolve any issues.
The applicant will then usually submit the necessary revisions and/or additional documentation for distribution and review. Any comments on the resubmittal can also be found in the Development Review Comments section on the web site.
Once issues have been resolved, the case will be included on the next available agenda, advertised as required, and a report written. Reports are posted on the web site with the agenda about one week prior to the meeting.
The staff review is relatively technical in nature, relying on existing conditions, applicable regulations, the provisions of the County’s Comprehensive Plan, and any other known policy guidance to determine whether a request is appropriate. Staff is advisory to the Planning Commission, and prepares its recommendations for their use. The Planning Commission, in turn, is advisory to the Board of Commissioners. Where final action is assigned to the Planning Commission, as with site plans and preliminary subdivision plats, the Planning Commission makes the decision and no further action is required. Where final action is assigned to the Board of Commissioners, the Planning Commission makes a recommendation and the Board of Commissioners makes the final decision. The Board makes the final decision on any rezoning or PUP request. Both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors hold a public hearing on each request. The public is encouraged to attend and participate in these hearings.
Standards which apply to the different kinds of applications are spelled out in the applicable regulation or ordinance. Specific standards are set forth for Rezoning, Special Use Permits, Site Plans, and Variances. [Click on the link to view these standards.] Staff includes the standards in the staff report and comments on the application’s compliance with them.
All applications are received at any time and immediately assigned to a planner as case manager. Cases are quickly subjected to a review to determine if there are obvious errors that would prevent them from being processed in a timely manner. Once they are cleared for processing, copies of the case materials are referred to a number of agencies for review. Depending on the nature of the case and the specific location, reviews might be conducted by Planning & Zoning, Engineering, Public Works (Traffic and Drainage Divisions), GIS, Health Department, Fire, Brunswick-Glynn County Joint Water and Sewer Commission, Georgia Department of Transportation, and Building Inspections. In unusual cases, applications may also be referred to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (usually for review by the Coastal Resources Division or the Environmental Protection Division), or other state or federal agencies.
As soon as the case materials are distributed, the case will have a number and information can be obtained on-line through the Development Review Comments section of this web site. Since staff (the Development Review Team) meets every Wednesday, most applications are received on Monday or Tuesday and are distributed on Wednesday, so cases usually appear on-line beginning on Wednesday. Staff has one week (i.e.: until the following Wednesday) to post comments, which appear on the web site as soon as they are posted. The assigned planner will review the comments and coordinate with the staff and the applicant to resolve any issues.
The applicant will then usually submit the necessary revisions and/or additional documentation for distribution and review. Any comments on the resubmittal can also be found in the Development Review Comments section on the web site.
Once issues have been resolved, the case will be included on the next available agenda, advertised as required, and a report written. Reports are posted on the web site with the agenda about one week prior to the meeting.
The staff review is relatively technical in nature, relying on existing conditions, applicable regulations, the provisions of the County’s Comprehensive Plan, and any other known policy guidance to determine whether a request is appropriate. Staff is advisory to the Planning Commission, and prepares its recommendations for their use. The Planning Commission, in turn, is advisory to the Board of Commissioners. Where final action is assigned to the Planning Commission, as with site plans and preliminary subdivision plats, the Planning Commission makes the decision and no further action is required. Where final action is assigned to the Board of Commissioners, the Planning Commission makes a recommendation and the Board of Commissioners makes the final decision. The Board makes the final decision on any rezoning or PUP request. Both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors hold a public hearing on each request. The public is encouraged to attend and participate in these hearings.
Standards which apply to the different kinds of applications are spelled out in the applicable regulation or ordinance. Specific standards are set forth for Rezoning, Special Use Permits, Site Plans, and Variances. [Click on the link to view these standards.] Staff includes the standards in the staff report and comments on the application’s compliance with them.